Five Fall Beers — Asheville Edition

September 30, 2017 — A recent trip to Asheville turned up some quality local beers, just in time for fall.

Sweeten Creek, English Mild (Mild Ale, 3.8% ABV) — Somehow this Mild, at less than 4% ABV, has a sweet, robust flavor and full mouthfeel that greatly outweighs the numbers. On tap at White Duck Taco, it’s a great little beer that was the revelation of the trip.

Lexington Avenue Brewery, Big Country (Double IPA, 8.9% ABV) — This brewpub has a great vibe and a excellent food. The Big Country is kind of an odd DIPA, with a rich malt framework that I love and a hearty shock of bitterness, but also a dose of crystal, almost minty sweetness than I couldn’t quite wrap my head around. Interesting?

Wicked Weed Brewing, Lunatic (Belgian Blonde, 6.5% ABV) — The Lunatic starts with big spicy and peppery notes, hints of orange and melon, a touch of sweetness and a full mouthfeel. An assertive hop accent adds definition. It’s precise, bright, fantastic and reminiscent of Houblon Chouffe with more depth across the palate.

Green Man Brewery, Trisckster Too (IPA, 7% ABV) — Loaded up with Columbia, Centennial and Citra hops, this sequel to the popular Trickster is a pretty aggressive IPA. It has a bready, biscuity base but what really comes through is the punch of bitter hops with accents of lemon and cream.

Wicked Weed, Sir Ryan the Pounder (Amber, 4.8% ABV) — The Pounder is as about as close as there is to a textbook amber in my book. Easy ABV, lots of creamy malt texture without being dominated by baked caramel, nice weight and just enough hops to keep things sharp. Nice!

In an era when golf writers were accustomed to being ushered from place to exotic place via air, Derek Duncan broke into the profession the old fashioned way: by car. Upon moving to Florida in 2000 and finding himself amid the greatest population of courses in the country, he began embarking on weekly golf expeditions throughout the state in an old Honda Civic.